HAMDEN, Conn. –
The No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team started its three-meet road trip in style with a season-best performance in a 289.204-281.669 win at Quinnipiac on Monday night.

The Ducks (5-0) got season-best scores in five of the six events to finish with their best score by nearly six points. The 289.204 score is the best in the country, besting No. 1 Maryland’s mark of 286.452 set on March 12.

“Our goal was to beat our personal best,” head coach Felecia Mulkey
said. “We are very excited about the team routine and overall scores. However, we know we still have room to improve going into our showdown against Maryland on Thursday night.”

Oregon opened the competition with its second-highest compulsories total of the season by posting three scores of 9.86 or higher, including a perfect 10 in the basket toss heat, to take the event 39.39-39.02.

The Ducks moved on to the stunts, where they swept all three heats on the strength of three scores of 9.79 or better, including a nation-best 9.94 in the seven-element stunt heat. UO’s final tally in the event was 29.54, the top score in the country, while Quinnipiac countered with a 28.325.

The Bobcats gained over two tenths of a point in the pyramid with a strong 29.7, which bested Oregon’s season-best 29.45. Despite the event loss, the Ducks still held a strong 98.380-97.045 lead at halftime.

Oregon built on its lead in the basket toss with a season-best and nation-leading 29.27 as two heats scored in the 9.8 range. Quinnipiac posted strong 29.10, but Oregon’s lead was extended to a point and a half.

The Ducks put the meet away with a huge effort in tumbling, sweeping all six heats to win the event, 55.08-51.71, to improve on their already nation-leading score.

Unsatisfied with four season bests, UO erupted with a 106.470 in the team routine to finish the evening. The team routine score bested Oregon’s previous best by nearly two points and was more than enough to hold off Quinnipiac, which scored a 103.810.

The Ducks return to the mat on Thursday when they clash with undefeated and No. 1 Maryland. The meet begins at 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific).